Assisted living made easy at Crestwood

Former Town of Niagara resident Anne Gonzalez is pictured with her sons Nick, left, and Jeff in her room at ElderWood Assisted Living at Crestwood.

Viewing 1 of 2

by
Susan Mikula Campbell

Anne
Gonzalez has been a resident of the new ElderWood Assisted Living at
Crestwood for about three months now, and she loves it.

"The
staff is wonderful, from the nurses on down to the cooks and cleaning
people. There's always someone at your beck and call whenever you
need them," she said. "I love everybody, and I've made a lot of
friends."

ElderWood
now offers a trio of senior living arrangements, right next door to
each other, off Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield.

There's
the original nursing home, ElderWood Health Care at Crestwood, which
offers subacute care and rehabilitation, skilled nursing, memory care
and respite care. Crestwood Commons was added several years ago,
providing independent living in apartments and individual patio homes
for seniors age 62 and older.

The
assisted living facility, a combination of a converted wing of the
skilled nursing facility and new construction, opened in October
2011. A grand opening was held last month.

Assisted
Living at Crestwood offers the New York State-certified Assisted
Living Program for residents who are medically qualified.
Round-the-clock nursing supervision and medication management is
provided to residents who have their own private or semi-private
rooms and enjoy furnished common areas. Meals are served
restaurant-style. Planned activities and outings are available. Other
services include laundry, housekeeping and assistance with bathing
and dressing.

Most
of the residents are singles, but there are four married couples
living there as well.

Gonzalez's
children researched 12 different assisted living facilities before
deciding on Crestwood.

"It
was kind of tough. Mom was in her home for 50-something years,"
said Jeff Gonzalez of Lewiston. "There's all the services you
need here. It's perfect for Mom."

Gonzalez's
room is decorated with her own furniture, and is accented by photos
and mementoes from her old home.

Son
Nick Gonzalez said his mother now has more friends and social
interaction than she did in her own house - "When she was at home,
she was on her own."

Anne
Gonzalez, a former Town of Niagara resident, was manager of the
information center for the Niagara Falls Convention and Visitors
Bureau for 15 years. She likes the friendly, family atmosphere at
Crestwood, where many of the residents originally came from Niagara
County and everybody seems to know somebody who knows somebody you
know, she said.

"You
become very close to people in here," she said.

"We've
had so many reunions here since we opened, between residents who have
reconnected with old friends and staff who grew up together or with
the residents' children," said Administrator Mimi Piciullo.
"Crestwood is their new neighborhood."

Robert
M. Chur, president and CEO of ElderWood, said Crestwood makes the
eighth assisted living facility in the ElderWood organization.

Construction
of ElderWood Assisted Living at Crestwood benefitted by a grant from
the Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law encouraging health
care organizations to increase options for assisted living care.

Among
the special guests at the grand opening were state Assemblyman John
Ceretto and Wheatfield Supervisor Bob Cliffe.

"It's
a beautiful complex," Ceretto said. "When you hang around seniors
you feel like a child again. ... It's nice to have a lot of moms
and dads around you."

Cliffe
brought greetings on behalf of his Town Board and encouraged
Crestwood residents and staff to take advantage of activities at the
town's community and senior centers.

He
also praised the new facility.

"Is there anything more important than giving
our seniors dignity and quality of life as they age?" he said.